Mortal Kombat 1 is the 12th main installment in the Mortal Kombat Series. Read on to find the game's release date and other information.
Mortal Kombat 1 Release Date and Time
September 19, 2023, 1 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. PDT
The game releases on September 19, 2023 for the PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch at 1 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. PDT. Players who have pre-ordered either the Premium Edition or Kollector’s Edition already started playing on September 14, 2023.
| Region | Local Release Time |
|---|---|
| United States (EDT) | September 19, 1:00 p.m. |
| United States (PDT) | September 19, 10:00 a.m. |
| United Kingdom | September 19, 6:00 p.m. |
| New Zealand | September 20, 5:00 a.m. |
| Australian East Coast | September 20, 3:00 a.m. |
| Australian West Coast | September 20, 1:00 a.m. |
| Japan | September 20, 2:00 a.m. |
| Philippines | September 20, 1:00 a.m. |
| South Africa | September 19, 7:00 p.m. |
| Brazil | September 19, 2:00 p.m. |
Everything We Know About Mortal Kombat 1
Mortal Kombat 1 Story Plot
Following the events of Mortal Kombat 11’s Aftermath DLC, Liu Kang - the God of Fire and Keeper of Time, has reset the universe. Here, in this new kosmic order, all major characters of the Mortal Kombat series have been given a second chance to pursue happy and meaningful lives. Meanwhile, the villains of the old timelines, have had their destinies altered so they wouldn’t be able to threaten the order of the universe anymore.
But in the Outworld, one of the many dimensions of the universe, a con-man and snake oil salesman named Shang Tsung is given a chance to rise to power and become the great villain he once was. Just in time, too, as the Earthrealm and the Outworld are about to hold the Mortal Kombat tournament, which could decide whether or not the two realms will end up in war.
MK staples such as Johnny Cage, Scorpion, Liu Kang, Baraka, and Kitana make their return. The game also sees the return of an iconic original character, Reptile, as a core fighter.
Mortal Kombat 1 also announced exciting additions to the roster with the game’s first soon-to-be-launched DLC Kombat Pack. Comic book characters such as Omni-Man, Homelander, and Peacemaker will be featured.
Mortal Kombat 1 Gameplay
Mortal Kombat 1 is still the hyper-violent fighter you've been accustomed to playing since NetherRealms took over the frachise with Mortal Kombat 9. Every fighter has their own unique moves, which you accomplish by pressing specific button combinations. At the end, you'll have the chance to inflict a "Fatality" or finishing move on your opponent.
There's a story campaign that will introduce you to almost all the characters. But if you want to unlock more moves (especially more gruesome fatalities), you'll have to level up these characters by playing through the game's Invasions or Tower modes. Invasions Mode is a seasonal single-player mode where you walk through a board game-like map to face an assortment of challenges such as brawls, Test Your Might minigames, or puzzles. Each of these challenges can give you rewards in the form of in-game currency, color palettes, or skins. Tower Mode is more straightforward. There's a tower, and each floor has a different AI-controlled fighter for you to beat. Beat them one by one as you ascend the Tower, and then you win.
But the additional game feature you'll have to master is the use of Kameo Fighters - characters who will back you up when you press the R button. These Kameo Fighters have their own special movesets as well, including fatalities. If you use them effectively, they'll be able to work in sync with your character, and both of you will deliver the hurt to the enemy.
Mortal Kombat 1 Pre-Orders
Both physical and digital versions, and all editions of Mortal Kombat 1 are available on major retailers and the supported platforms’ game stores. However, please note that the Kollector’s Edition is only available for the PS5 and Xbox Series and can be purchased in major retail stores.
- Standard Edition ($69.99)
- Premium Edition ($109.99)
- Kollector’s Edition ($249.99)
 Steam |
 Nintendo Switch |
 PlayStation Store |
 Xbox Store |
 Epic Store |
Mortal Kombat 1 - What’s the Buzz!?
Mortal Kombat 1 Search Trends
Mortal Kombat 1 has managed to have surges in search interest over the months since it’s first reveal by Warner Bros. Games and NetherRealm Studios in May 2023. Pre-orders for the game were announced in the same month, which provided players access to a closed beta.
Mortal Kombat 1 made its first big impression at Summer Game Fest 2023 in June, delivering a gameplay trailer and confirming a number of fighters returning in the game. The following month at San Diego Comic-con, more on the official roster of fighters were revealed, as well as the announcement of several comic book characters, such as Omni-Man and Homelander, as guest characters that are part of the Kombat Pack DLC. The news of original voice casting for the guest characters broke out.
Leading up to its release date, Mortal Kombat 1 continued to receive marketing push after marketing push, especially following the star-studded announcement of J.K. Simmons and John Cena coming in to voice their characters. Series creator Ed Boon also went on rounds and rounds of interviews to share more on Mortal Kombat 1’s gameplay, combat, plot, and fighters. And they have not let up, as MK 1 recently revealed a new trailer featuring actor Dave Bautista.
Mortal Kombat 1’s Popularity Compared to Other Games
We took three other games, namely, Starfield, Lords of the Fallen, and Super Mario RPG, and compared them to Mortal Kombat 1’s search interest over the past 12 months to find out which among the games seems to have gotten the fans the most excited about.
- Blue = Mortal Kombat 1
- Red = Starfield
- Yellow = Lords of the Fallen
- Green = Super Mario RPG
Mortal Kombat 1
Mortal Kombat 1 takes first place in this comparison. Mortal Kombat is a widely-popular, long-running series in the fighting game genre. Its dedicated fan base has grown over the years, which contributes to a high level of anticipation and interest for each new installment.
Mortal Kombat 1 has had a successful PR run after its official announcement back in May. It’s been able to sustain the interest it had generated quite well over the past 5 months, and may have even attracted new audiences due to its various collaborations with the entertainment industry.
The perfect combination of strategic marketing, the appeal to both new and longtime fans, and the ambition of remaking the lore of the series, has pushed Mortal Kombat 1 to a higher level.
Starfield
Starfield ranks second in this comparison. The game had just recently been released for Early Access September 1st and has since then experienced massive breakouts in search trends on Google. This is to be expected when a game debuts.
Even before its release, though, Starfield had become a hot topic among players after its acquisition by Microsoft. Generally, Starfield was well-received by Bethesda fans and gaming enthusiasts, but reviews of the game that have been out so far, including ours, says that Starfield didn’t quite live up to its hype.
Super Mario RPG
Super Mario RPG takes third place in this comparison. There has not been much information or new content released outside of the initial trailer regarding the upcoming remake, especially as Nintendo starts its marketing push for Super Mario Bros. Wonder. However, we expect a surge in search interest for the game after Nintendo Direct and fans will get more content.
Super Mario RPG remains to be a constant topic among fans as it is a remake of the original cult classic. It is a highly-anticipated game for RPG enthusiasts and Mario fans alike, and it looks to be one of this year's sleeper hits in gaming.
Lords of the Fallen
Lords of the Fallen ranks last in this comparison. Despite being one of the most highly anticipated games coming out in October 2023, it seems that Lords of the Fallen’s popularity pales in comparison to the three major titles’.
Although so far, Lords of the Fallen seems to be well received, particularly with the Soulslike community. It quickly found its place on players’ list of games to look out for after its official announcement at Gamescom Opening Night 2022. The game boasts exciting gameplay features and a stunning gothic world, and it looks to be a promising and highly-improved sequel.
Mortal Kombat 1 Fan Reactions
This user seems to be impressed with Mortal Kombat 1’s gameplay, especially Mileena’s.
One user notes how much of an upgrade Liu Kang’s Fatality in Mortal Kombat 1 is from the previous title.
One user shares how much fun they had in keeping up with the announcements and reveals Mortal Kombat 1 has made over the past months.
In anticipation of the game, one user has shared their list of duos of the base roster and Kameo fighters using creative and punny names for the pairings.
Mortal Kombat 1 Hype Verdict
Mortal Kombat 1 appeals to those who are just getting themselves into the Mortal Kombat franchise, as well as longtime fans who have been waiting to see what the newest MK title has to offer. MK 1 has been successful in keeping fans engaged and excited with continuous rollouts detailing the new timeline the game takes place in, intriguing character reinventions, the Kameo Fighter System, and even the upcoming Kombat Pack DLC.
The expanded combat with the addition of the assist fighter system also puts a twist into the fighting fundamentals of Mortal Kombat. So far with what has been shown in gameplays, it looks like players will get to relearn each fighter in a whole new way with the mix and match being implemented into each fighters’ play style.
Mortal Kombat 1 Trailers
Mortal Kombat 1 Announcement Trailer
Mortal Kombat 1 Official Gameplay Trailer
Official Kombat Pack Roster Reveal Trailer
Launch Trailer
Mortal Kombat 1 Product Information
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| Title | MORTAL KOMBAT 1 |
|---|---|
| Release Date | September 19, 2023 |
| Developer | NetherRealm Studios |
| Publisher | Warner Bros. Games |
| Supported Platforms | PC, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch |
| Genre | Fighting |
| Number of Players | Single System (1-2); Online (1-8) |
| ESRB Rating | M |
| Official Website | Mortal Kombat 1 Website |
